N05035:201
An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…
An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications requisite to a complete standing and full communion in the visible Christian church. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; With an appendix by Mr. Foxcroft. ; [Ten lines of quotations]An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications requisite to a compleat standing and full communion in the visible Christian church. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; With an appendix by Mr. Foxcroft. ; [Ten lines of quotations]
Boston: : Printed & sold by S. Kneeland in Queenstreet, 1749
Title page typeset from the transcription.
An Inquiry into the Qualifications for full Communion in the visibl… › Part 3
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
PART III.
OBJECTIONS answered
OBJECTIONS answer'd
OBJECT. 1. The Scripture calls the Members of the visible Church by the Name of Disciples, Scholars, or Learners; and that suggests to us this Notion of the visible Church, that it is the School of Christ, into which Persons are admitted in order to their learning of Christ, and coming to spiritual Attainments, in the Use of the Means of Teaching, Discipline and Training up, established in the School. Now if this be a right Notion of the visible Church, then Reason shows that no other Qualifications are necessary in order to a being Members of this School, than such a Faith and Disposition of Mind as are requisite to Persons putting themselves under Christ as their Master and Teacher, and subjecting themselves to the Orders of the school. But a common Faith and moral Sincerity are sufficient for this. Therefore the Scripture leads us to suppose the visible Church to be properly constituted of those who have these Qualifications, tho' they have not saving Faith and true Piety.
OBJECT. 1. The Scripture calls the Members of the visible Church by the Name of Disciples, Scholars, or Learners; and that suggests to us this Notion of the visible Church, that it is the School of Christ, into which Persons are admitted in order to their learning of Christ, and coming to spiritual Attainments, in the Use of the Means of Teaching, Discipline and Training up, establish'd in the School. Now if this be a right Notion of the visible Church, then Reason shews that no other Qualifications are necessary in order to a being Members of this School, than such a Faith and Disposition of Mind as are requisite to Persons putting themselves under Christ as their Master and Teacher, and subjecting themselves to the Orders of the school. But a common Faith and moral Sincerity are sufficient for this. Therefore the Scripture leads us to suppose the visible Church to be properly constituted of those who have these Qualifications, tho' they have not saving Faith and true Piety.